Bather&#39;s amusement device



' June 25, 1929. DE -r 1.718.637

BATHERS AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 12, 9 928 3 Sheets-Sheet l 24 I T Z3 7 .1. 7 g

Nicola DePento I Atmrney Jun e 25; 1929. 'N, 'DE PENT 1,718,637

BATHERS AMUSEMENT DEVICE dApril 12, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Mcola DePe nto June 25, .1929. N. DE PENTC 1.718453] BATHEHS AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 12. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor fl w DePnto Aztorngy l atentcd June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

NICOLA DE PENTO, F CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA.

BATHERS AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed April 12,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in amusement devices for use by leathers and aims to provide a self-propelled animal simulating structure that will float upon the surfaceof the Water and that will support a bather and that Will carry the bather from place to place Within the Water.

A. toreinost object of this invention is to provide an amusement device of this charu cl that will elwa s as-ssume an upright position in the Water and that constructed to simulate a horse, pony, mule, sea lion or other animal to be ridden about by the bathers While in bathing, be it a, tank, the ocean or other body of Water. A further and most important object is to provide a steering means for the device consisting generally of a rudder arranged pel 'iendi cularly at the reareiud oil the device and adapted to be actuated by the lldzlltl' riding upon the device by drrnving upon a bridle simulating the bridle ot a ridii horse or the like simple means being proruled for causing the turning movement of the rudder in reverse directions when the bridle is drawn in a manner similar to the drawing of the bridle of a riding horse or the like.

l ith the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention Will be better uiulerstorul, the same comprises the novel tori-n, combimltion and arrangenient of purts herei natteri'nore fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

.ln the drawings wherein like reference elniractms indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views ll igure 1 is a side elevation of my improved amusement device the same being constructed is a detail longitudinal section oi the device,

Figure is tarv section taken tl'irough the rear end or the" body oi the device illustrating the rudder and ce-srtain of its associated structural teatures,

and (impending from the 1928. Serial No. 269,387.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section through the body of the device constructed at its top side With a gas outlet opening,

Figure 2' is a detail horizontal section taken substantially upon the broken line 7-7 oi Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a somewhat enlarged horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 88 o'l Figure l,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantial upon the line 9-9 oil said Figure 1 disclosing the means whereby access may be had to the interior of the animal simulating body, and

Figure is a perspective of the holding bandle.

New having particular reference to the drawings, my novel amusement device con- 3 s of a hollow body 5 oi Wood or other suit able tloatable material coiustrlutcd to simulate in. a general manner-"the body of a riding horse or in fact any character of animal desired.- Constructed integrally with the body bottom side the m1" at the trout and rear ends ot the body are appendages (S simulating in general in legs of the animal, Arranged lon between these appendages at oppo v the body are weighted bars '2] 7 preferably of elongated U-lormation which will serve to maintain the body in upright position within the water as disclosed more clearly in lligure 1. Arranged at the rear end of. the said body 5 are horizontally extending spaced parallel frame members 8 8 between the rear ends ot which is pivotally mounted a suitable rudder blade 9 the uppermost pivotthereot' being constructed with a pulley 10. Mounted upon the inside or the body 5 in line with this pulley 10 is a guide pulley 11 While at opposite sides of this pulley and shortly thereabove are other pulleys 12. 1; trained over which. are the opposite runs 13, 13 of a able 14:.

From the pulleys 12., 12 the runs of the cable extend downwardly and are trained over the said pulley ll. from which point they pass through a suitable packed opening in the rear end of the body 5 utter which said cable is trained over-the rudder pulley 10 With the obvious result that when the oppo site runs are drawn forwardly the rudder 9 will be moved upon its pivot for controlling the movement or the body through the Water. Arranged transversely through the mouth portion of the animal simulating head of said body 5 is a shaft 15, equipped at its opposite ends with reversely extending arms 16, 16 said arms being exteriorly of the body head as clearly disclosed in Figure 1. Attached at its opposite ends to the ends of these arms 16, 16 is a strap or rope bridle 17 extended over the neck of the animal body as disclosed. \Vithin the head of the body the shaft is 1O equipped with a further pair of oppositely extending arms 18, 18 to which are connected the inner ends of the runs 13, 13 of said cable 1 1 the runs of said cable being suitably guided over other pulleys arranged within 15 the body 5 as more clearly disclosed in Figure 4. All of the arms of the shaft 15 are normally maintained inperpendicular position through the medium of retractile coiled springs 19 arranged between the inner arms 20 18, 18 and the head portion of the animal simulating body.

Thus when the shaft 15 is rocked in reverse direction by pulling upon the opposite ends of the bridle 17, similar to the drawing of the Z5 bridle of an actual animal the rudder 9 will be controlled for steering the device through the water. Any suitable power plant may be provided "for operating a propeller 2O arranged for rotation at the rear end of the body 5' this means being disclosed in the present instance as including an electric motor 21 arranged within the body 5 and operatively connected to the propeller 20 in, if desired, the manner disclosed, this motor receiving its current from a storage battery 22 also located within the body. If this character of driving means is provided for the propeller 20 a suitable switch 23 should be mounted upon 'the top side of the body preferably at the back 40 of the animals neck as disclosed said switch being located in the wiring between the battery 22 of the motor 21. Furthermore if an electric motor and battery is employed it will be necessary to construct the body 5 at its top .45 side and preferably adjacent the head of the animal with a vent opening 24 so that the fumes from the battery may escape thereifrom.

In order to protect the bathers it is prefierable that the propeller 20 be protected by a suitable screening If desired, one of the well known types of outboard motors may be associated with the rear end of the animal simulating body but as a matter of fact I do not desire to be limited to any particular character of propelling means for the device.

, It will thus be seen thatI have provided a very simple, novel and amusing device for use by bathers and even though I have herein 0 shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that some changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In an amusement device of the character described, a hollow body of animal or other suitable shape adapted to float upon the surface of a body of water, means arranged at the bottom side of the body for supporting the body in. upright position within the water, means associated with the body for propelling it through the water, a steering rudder pivoted to the rear end of the body, means associated with the head portion of the body whereby the rudder may be swung in reverse directions, said means consisting of a shaft arranged through the mouth of the animal shaped body and connected to said rudder whereby the reverse rocking movement of the shaft will cause the reverse movcnu-ut of the rudder, and a bridle attached at its ends to the ends of the shaft whereby the shaft may be rocked.

2. In an amusement device of the class described, an animal, shuulating figure of: hollow formation adapted to float upon the surface of a body of water, a pair of substantially U- shaped weighted bars connecting the respective forward and rear pairs of legs for supporting the figure in an upright position, a motor driven propeller extending from the rear of the figure for propelling the figure through the water, means within the body of the hollow figure for actuating the propeller, a steering rudder mounted at the rear of the figure, and means operable by the occupant of the figure for actuating the steering rudder.

3. In an amusement device of the class dcscrihed. an animal simulating figure of hollow formation adapted to float upon the surface of a body of water, a pair of substantially U- shaped weighted bars connecting the respective forward and rear pairs of legs for supporting the figure in an upright position, a motor driven propeller extending from the rear of the figure for propelling the figure through the water. means within the body of the hollow figure for actuating the propeller, a steering rudder mounted at the rear of the figure, means operable by the rider of the ligurc for actuating the steering lll(l(l1l.t :llll last mentioned means including a pulley carried by the rudder. a rock shaft arranged through the month of the animal simulating figure, arms attached to the rock shaft, a cable having its intermediate portion trained around said pulley and connected at its respective ends to the respective arms, and a bridle strap operatively connected to the rock shaft for actuating the same to swing the rudder.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

NTCOLA DE PENTO.

Ill) 

